Immediately after Stephen's death, the Jerusalem church became the target of an intense campaign of persecution on the part of the Jews. This was so terrible that many believers had to flee to different places. In facts 8: 1 we read that "all were scattered", but that does not mean that the church had disappeared in its entirety, because there were still Christians in Jerusalem. It is true that the persecution was cruel and the flight of believers considerable; nevertheless the apostles and a numerous congregation remained there, in spite of so many difficulties that arose continuously.
The Lord used the scattering of Christians to accelerate the spread of the gospel. This is how the enemies of Christ unwittingly promoted the message of salvation that had been given to the church.Multitudes of believers were driven away from their places of origin and had to leave their homes. But instead of feeling bitter and demoralized they went with great enthusiasm spreading the flame of their faith wherever they went. In this way a great spiritual revival was unleashed in those days "through the lands of Judea and Samaria and many other regions.
It is very probable that until those moments the believers were tied to Jewish traditions and prejudices. But from then on, breaking all kinds of barriers went through the world with the message of liberation and eternal life.
God used the persecution in Jerusalem to set in motion his plan for the fulfillment of the great commission. It is possible that the believers have been enjoying the atmosphere that was lived in Jerusalem: the teachings, the miracles and especially the communion of the Christian people. All these were blessings that they do not want to abandon. Perhaps they would think that as long as the souls were becoming the city, they were not obliged to do anything else for the Lord.
God has his own methods to mobilize his people. Sometimes he does it through experiences and even personal tragedies. Other times it manifests by means of changes in leadership, through unexpected revivals, or even through opposition and attack by the enemy.
Because of the way in which the attitude of those who were scattered is described, according to facts 8: 4, it seems that all of them had become lay preachers. He says that "they went everywhere announcing the gospel." They did not need pulpitos or temples to develop this ministry. They acted at any time and place where they were with an unsaved person.
The effect of this persecution demonstrated once again that satanic power and strategy can never be equated with God's plans. "Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world" (1John 4: 4).
In Romans 8:31 we are told that "if God is for us, who is against us?" These words were written several years after this period of persecution by one who had been the most ruthless enemy of the church before its conversion.
An example of obedience to the great commission is found in the sensibility of felipe. His instant obedience to divine instructions is a true example for all of us who want to carry out the evangelistic work. When the angel said, "get up," Felipe got up immediately and went to where he was sent without comment or reproach.
Perhaps it is illustrative to speculate or imagine what could have been the answer of felipe to the angel's instructions to leave samaria and go to gaza.
He could have said: "Gaza, me, sir? Do not you see how I've done well in the evangelistic campaign I'm leading here in Samaria? Also, you know that this is a desert and inhospitable place. find not even a human being in all that way to evangelize it Lord, I can not go now You see that everyone loves me here and they need me to continue guiding them in the work If I leave this place it is probable that the work is destroyed, look to see if you can send someone else to gaza.
But I do not argue with the Lord like that. One of the most outstanding characteristics of felipe was his obedience to the instructions of the Holy Spirit. Without much thought I leave the fruitful ministry of Samaria in the hands of the Lord and prepared to leave the place where he was being sent to fulfill the will of the Lord.